How Can We Be Vulnerable Yet Guard Our Heart?

“Carry each others’ burdens, & in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” (Gal. 6:2)

I recently heard about an author who suffered with breast cancer & experienced negative affects of the positive thinking movement. She wrote a book about the harmful results of positive thinking.

While being positive is generally better than being negative, we should have concerns about positive thinking carried to extremes. Particularly, it seems unhealthy for someone who is ill to never feel free to express their true state or condition.

Most people who suffer from disability or chronic illness learn very quickly that positive thinking can only carry you so far. Denying your true condition endlessly does not cause that condition to improve or go away.

Somehow those of us who are afflicted must find a way to keep hope alive & strong, while at the same time being honest about our condition. How to express the reality of our condition while at the same time avoiding pessimism is not an easy challenge.

The first & most important thing we can do is to go to the Lord with all our burdens & concerns, & pour them out to Him.

Secondly, we need to discover those around us who we can be open with regarding our illnesses. For the sad truth is that some people cannot be trusted with our afflictions. Even well meaning people are often clueless about dealing with afflictions, & they offer pat answers or even thoughtless reactions.

Share your burdens with those you trust, but especially with the Lord. Stay optimistic, but not to the degree that you fail to be honest about your condition & needs.

Prayer: Dear Lord, help us to face our challenges with courage & honesty. Carry our burdens when we are too weak to lift them, & bring others into our lives who we can share our concerns with. Amen.

About the Author:
Karlton Douglas lives in Ohio with his lovely wife. With God’s help he has survived many years with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome & Crohn’s Disease. He is author of the book, Chronic Illness.